The European market for electric vehicles and hybrids in may was successful

1 July 2019

Hybrid crossover Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ascended the pedestal

According to ev-sales in may in the segment of passenger PEV in Europe, there were about 37 thousand electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV), which is 28% higher than the same period last year and has become a very good indicator, given the overall stagnant European car market (+0,04%).

In may there were about 24 thousand BEV, which accounted for 63% of all PEV sales last month, while the share of BEV on total car market amounted to 1.6%, and if you consider the PHEV, the PEV share of the segment rose in may to 2.6%. Since the beginning of 2019, the share of PEV has risen to 2.9% (1.9% and amounted to only BEV), which is higher than the percentage of 2.5% over the same period in 2018.

As for the car sales on traditional fuels (ICE), the diesel cars continue to shrink as shagreen: their share dropped to 32% against 36% last year.

And yet, the major news in may was the rise of the hybrid crossover Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in the second place, by the way, for the first time since January.

It is interesting that, despite a temporary failure of the overseas Tesla Model 3, all the rest of the Top 5 bestsellers showed growth rates above 30% that was good news for the European market, because unlike the US market Model 3 recaptures sales are not other electric vehicles, but rather extends the scope of the PEV market.

Monthly ranking of the models:

No. 1 – the Renault Zoe: implemented in may, 4106 units marked for French electro hatchback costs an impressive 62 percent growth, and this despite the fact that a greatly improved "new" and Zoe just debuted the Peugeot 208 EV electro hatchback costs (and also similar to Opel Corsa EV, etc.) actually appears on the market only a few months. As for the rating models, the Zoe continues to enjoy the same popularity in its home market as before (1331 units, +23%) and showed growth on the markets of Germany (875 units), Italy (448 units – a new record for this model), and, on the Italian market of Renault benefit from the new benefits, the second consecutive time improving the achievements of the brand in the segment of BEV.

No. 2, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Japanese hybrid crossover, whose positions seem to be invulnerable even with the advent of new models. Today it is the only PHEV that is able to grow at a rate of the bestsellers of the BEV segment. Model Mitsubishi scored 3286 units in may – an increase of 121% (!), still one of the most popular PEV in the UK (700 units), but, interestingly, the main market for the Outlander PHEV is currently performing in Germany with a record 957 units. and in other markets it's sold in large enough quantities (Sweden – 365 units, Norway – 310 units, France – 223 units). This is an example of how a plug-in hybrid can succeed in an environment conducive to pure electric vehicles BEV, but in the long run it is not clear how long the Outlander PHEV will still resist the wave of popularity of BEV, because in the near future, Mitsubishi is not planning to issue model type BEV. However, the hybrid crossover is still can this year without any worries to gain a large enough sales volume.

No. 3 – Tesla Model 3: after the peak of registrations in March, the sale of this American elektrosetey corrected to a more moderate performance. In may, Tesla only put 2849 units of Model 3, but with the pre-orders in June, its sales should again soar upwards. As for individual markets, mid-size Tesla is mainly sold in Norway (705 units), the Netherlands (419 units), Germany (317 units) and Sweden (198 units).

No. 4 – BMW i3: sale German hot hatchback in may increased by 56% to 2718 units, and the "pocket rocket BMW" benefited from its unique positioning: it is the only urban premium EV, which allows it to continue to increase sales is in the spirit of the growth segment of the BEV. If we consider the markets of individual countries, the main i3 was Germany (878 units), Norway (344 units) and United Kingdom (310 units). Looking at the end of 2019, we can expect that the electric car, whose design was inspired by "Star wars", will continue to grow at a rapid pace and, therefore, will surely retain their membership in the top five.

No. 5 – Volkswagen Golf-e: electric variants VW Golf managed to take 5th place in may, 1993 ed., which is 34% more than last year. And this is surprising, given that the headquarters in Wolfsburg started such a violent advertising campaign, the newest ID-series BEV, as if he had not have one successful model of electric car on the market. However, we can assume that VW marketers just think that ID.3 is aimed at a different consumer segment more extroverted youth, relative to the current age and more calm audience, the Golf-e, which prefers not to emphasize his mobility. It is even possible that the German manufacturer will decide on some time to leave the product as a e-Golf, and ID.3, by implementing them jointly through a dealer network of VW. So, the main European markets for e-Golf in may, was Norway (779 units.), Germany (310 units) and United Kingdom (290 units).

As for the rating over 5 months of 2019, here the main news was the 3rd place Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which has overtaken the Nissan LEAF, for the first time since February back in the Top 3, and Japanese hybrid crossover was the only PHEV in the Top 7 PEV sales.

Relatively electro hatchback costs the Nissan LEAF – he really needs a dope version with a new battery with a capacity of 62 kW•h to stop losing places in the ranking, as the BMW i3, yet located on 5-th position is fast approaching.

Speaking of the BMW Group in the Top 10 there was only one change in the models of this producer, so English hybrid crossover Mini Countryman PHEV was able to climb one position to # 8.

In the second half of the table, the situation remained relatively stable: novice Audi e-Tron slowly continued to rise up the table – German premium electrocreaser now the 14th, and its counterpart Jaguar i-Pace, the 11th, beating the Kia Niro EV, and currently strives to exceed occupying 10-th place BMW 530e with its 263 units.

The urban two-seater Smart Fortwo EV sold in the amount of 980 units, occupying 17-e a place. This was the best result for the model over the last 16 months, it sounds very promising on the background of rumors about bringing in the end of this year, the battery capacity up to 30 kW•h.

At number 18 in the ranking rose Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV full – size hybrid SUV, which was able to surpass the Volvo XC90 PHEV and the British became the new bestseller in the category of "premium" hybrids.

It is expected that the new peak sales of the Tesla in June, will allow Model S is guaranteed to return to the Top 20 next month, and even electrocreaser Model X (642 units in may and 2481 units YTD) may try to break into the Top 20.

In the ranking of manufacturers, remains the leader of Tesla (15% with a decline of 1%), while the former leader BMW (14%, up 1%) took the second place, but with the peak Tesla is expected in June, California-based company will jump to inaccessible to competitors height. In 3rd place is the Renault (10%, up 1%), and then are Hyundai and Mitsubishi, with a share of 8%.


PS According already the global market for PEV it remains the leader Tesla Model 3 17 965 units in may and 86 315 units in five months, accounting for 10% of the market. By the way, second place in may, is China's BAIC EU-Series with the 7079 units, but since the beginning of the year, ahead of BYD Yuan EV 36 918 units against 31 units from 160 EU-Series. Compact EV electrocreaser Yuan in may was 3rd with 6044 units.
Total global sales of PEV in may 2019 amounted to 179 units and 270 841 358 units YTD..